JAKARTA – The Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, M. Tito Karnavian together with the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe agreed on a plan to expand 7 provinces in Papua, in accordance with the number of existing customary territories . 

This agreement was made after a closed-door meeting between the Minister of Home Affairs and the Governor of Papua at the Ministry of Home Affairs Office in Jakarta, Friday (17/6) yesterday, according to a release received by the editor.

The Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe accompanied by the Regional Secretary of Papua, DR.M. Ridwan Rumasukun, Assistant for Government Affairs, Doren Wakerkwa, SH, MH, Assistant for Economic Affairs and Social Affairs, DR.M. Musa'ad was welcomed by the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian with officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs and immediately held a closed-door meeting for about an hour.

After the meeting, Governor Lukas Enembe told reporters that since 2014 his party has proposed the expansion of 7 provinces in Papua based on customary territories to the central government.

Then currently there are five customary territories and only one that will be discussed by law is North Papua as proposed.

The governor emphasized that when the expansion of the 7 provinces occurs, it must also be automatically followed by the acceleration of its development as the will of the central government.

"Yes, the hope is that when this expansion occurs, it will automatically be followed by the acceleration of its development and budget policy," said Governor Enembe.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Home Affairs, M. Tito Karnavian explained that the meeting with the Governor of Papua was to discuss the issue of expansion and had long been proposed by the Governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, to bloom seven provinces according to customary territories.

"I have explained that what is currently being discussed in the DPR-RI is 3 provinces, namely South Papua Province, Central Papua Province and Central Mountain Province. Meanwhile, there has also been a proposal for the expansion of Southwest Papua Province and is likely to be discussed this year, the expansion will occur next year," explained the Minister of Home Affairs.

Continued the Minister of Home Affairs, there is a proposal for one more expansion, namely North Papua Province, which will be included in the national legislation program to be discussed in 2023 so that it can also be bloomed next year, the plan has long been about the proposed expansion from the Governor of Papua to 7 provinces. ***